Renal Pathology Fellowship

Overview

The Renal Fellowship is a collaborative program between the renal pathology services at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and fellows will rotate at both sites. This one-year fellowship aims to provide comprehensive training in renal pathology, combining the strengths and resources of both institutions to prepare fellows for academic careers devoted to the study of renal pathology.

The fellowship offers extensive exposure to clinical renal pathology. Combined, the two academic medical centers review over 2,500 renal biopsies and nephrectomies per year, including consultations. Teaching sets are available in conventional histology, immunofluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry tests. The services also receive thousands of serum samples for reference testing for anti-GBM antibodies, ANCA, and anti-PLA2R.

Requirements

Applicants must be Board eligible or certified in Anatomic Pathology, or if a graduate of an international medical school, have a valid ECFMG certificate and ability to obtain a Massachusetts medical license prior to starting the fellowship.

Curriculum

During our fellowship, trainees will be able to:

• Independently review and recognize the pathologic features of the most important and common renal disorders, understand relevant pathomechanisms, and acquire the ability to formulate a diagnosis.
• Experience the challenges and dynamics of an academic renal pathology service.
• Learn the technical aspects of all ancillary diagnostics used in the evaluation of the renal biopsy, including tissue processing, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy.

Under the direction of the attending renal pathologists, the trainee will participate in all the daily activities of the renal pathology laboratory and will be actively involved with the renal staff pathologist in all the steps leading to the final diagnosis of all renal specimens submitted, including consults.

These steps involve: 1) assessment of fresh biopsies obtained at BWH using the stereomicroscope; 2) tissue allocation for light, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, 3) biopsy evaluation by light, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, and 4) generation of written diagnostic reports.

The trainee is expected to attend and participate in weekly renal pathology conferences and is strongly encouraged to take advantage of daily departmental teaching and diagnostic conferences.

Conferences and Other Learning Opportunities

• Renal Grand Rounds – Weekly, one teaching case (often with pathology) is presented followed by a didactic talk (Renal Division).
• Renal Pathology Conferences – Weekly, several cases are presented in the format of clinicopathologic conference; clinical and pathologic correlations are discussed.
• Journal Club of the Renal Division
• Review of current cases with staff nephrologists, nephrology fellows, and house staff daily at the multiheaded microscope (Pathology Department).

Research Experience

Fellows are provided opportunity to participate in research projects over the course of the training period, and are encouraged to submit abstracts to ASN, USCAP, and other conferences and meetings.

How to Apply

We will begin accepting applications for AY2028-2029 in the spring of 2026. We will update this website once we have begun accepting applications again, at which time interested applicants can send inquiries or the below required application materials by email:

• CAP Standardized Pathology Fellowship Application
• Curriculum Vitae (must be in date/year format 00/0000)
• Personal Statement describing career goals and cytopathology interest
• USMLE Steps 1, 2, & 3 Score Report- (Canadian physicians and Doctors of Osteopathy who are eligible for licensure may substitute documentation of successful completion of LMCC/MCCQE and COMLEX examinations, respectively, in lieu of USMLE examinations).
• Photo
• Three Letters of Recommendation (one letter must be from your current program director or department chair)
• Copy of MD Degree or equivalent (International medical graduates only)
• Copy of ECFMG Certificate (International medical graduate only)

Fellowships and Faculty Contacts

Astrid Weins, MD, PhD, Chief of MGB Renal Pathology

Sujal Shah, MD, Fellowship Program Director

Claire Avillach, MD

Helmut Rennke, MD

Neal Smith, MD, PhD

Veronica Klepeis, MD, PhD